Tobacco box with time controlled latch



May 22, 1951 R. F. DAVIS 2,554,360

'roBAcco Box wm: TIME coNTRoLLED LATCH Fild Jan. 7, 1948 Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,554,360 TOBACCO Box WITH TIMEv eoNTRoLLED LATCH Robert F. Davis, Falls Church, Va.

Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. 1,035

7 Claims. (Cl. 'Z0-269) This invention relates to tobacco boxes intended for use by persons desiring to reduce the amount of tobacco which they consume and more particularly relates to a cigarette case having Y time-locking means arranged so that the case can be opened only at the expiration of predetermined time intervals to permit withdrawal or removal of cigarettes by the user.

The principal object of the invention is to provide for persons desirous of restricting themselves in their smoking habits, a novel tobacco box or cigarette case which is locked automatically upon closing for a predetermined time interval, after the expiration of which the box can be opened, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tobacco box having a time-latch in addition to the ordinary latch whereby access may be gained into the interior of the tobacco box only z' after the expiration of a predetermined time interval, if such access is desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a time-latch for tobacco boxes and timing means cooperating with the time-latch, which timing means may be adjusted so that the time-latch will remain in its locking position for predetermined time intervals which may be conveniently varied in accordance with the users desires.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tobacco box of the type having timecontrolled latching means in addition to the ordinary latching means, which is simple in construction and which may be easily and economically manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of time-controlled latching means for boxes which is simple in construction and which may be easily and economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention Will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a tobacco box embodying the principles of this invention and showing the closure member in its opened position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to the sectional vieW of Figure 2 but showing the closure member in closed position and the time-latch in its locked position;

Figure 4 is a sectional View similar to Figure 2 3 but illustrating the time-latch in its unlocked position; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, reference numeral 6 generally designates the body of the tobacco box having a bottom Wall 1, side walls 8, a front Wall 9 anda rear wall I Il. Reference numeral I I generally designates the closure member of the box having a top wall I2, side walls I3, a front wall I4 and a rear wall I5. 'I'he rear Walls I0 and I5, respectively, of the body 6 and the closure member II are hinged together at I6. The front, rear and side walls of the body 6 are formed with anges I'I and the front, rear and side Walls of the closure member I I are formed with flanges I8 Which cooperate with lflanges I'I to form a seal for the tobacco box when the box is in closed position.v The front wall 9 of the body 6 has a, slot I9 formed therein and a flat spring 20 is slidably supported by brackets 2| which are rigidly attached to said front wall 9; also-rigidly attached to the front wall 9 and the bottom wall 'I are brackets 22 having apertures 2.3 formed therein; and rigidly attached to the front Wall 9, rear wall I0 and bottom wall 1 are partitions 24. Rigidly attached to the front Wall I4 of the closure member II is the L-shaped ange -or keeper 25. Rigidly attached to the top Wall I2 of the closure member II are the racks 26, having slots 21 'formed therein.

Slidably mounted on the body 6 is a latch 28 having portion 29 thereof extending through the slot I9 and a portion 30 thereof engaging said fiat spring 29, in a manner such that the flat spring 20 urges the latch 28 toward the front wall 9 through which the portion 29 of the latch 28 extends. The latch 28 engages the flange I8 of the front wall I4 of the closure member I I when the box is in closed position,

Time-latch 3| having apertures 32 and 33 formed therein is pivotally mounted on brackets 22 by means of a pin 34 extending through apertures 23 and 32. Generallydesignated by reference numeral 35 is the novel timing mechanism which comprises two hollow cylindrical members 36 and A3l, -the member 36 being slidable within, or telescopically arranged with respect to, the member 31. v

The member 3.6 is closed at one end r38 and formed rigidly thereto are the brackets 39 having apertures 49 formed therein. The other end 4I of member 36 is internally threaded to receive the threaded plug 42 having an aperture 43 formed therein. Housed within the member 36 is a fluid 44; a plunger 45 having an aperture 46 formed therein; a washer 41 carried by the plunger 45 and having a corresponding aperture 48 formed therein; a strong coil-spring 49; and a rod 50 having a head 5I formed on one end and having threads 52 on its other end. The rod 50 is adapted to extend through apertures 46, 48 and 43, apertures 46 and 48 being somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod and aperture 43" fitting the rod snugly, whereby the rod 50 carries the plunger 45 andthe washer 41, and the aperture 43 serves as a guide for the rod 5Dv and as a liquidV seal. One end of the strong coilspring 49 bears against the washer 41 and the other end bears against the plug 42.

The member 31 is open at the end 53 to rece1ve y the end 4I of the member 36vand the other end of 31 is closed as at 54; said closed end 54 carries a bracket 55 having an aperture 56 formed therein; the end 54 is also threaded to receive the threads 52 `of the rod 50. Housed within the member 31 is the weak coil-spring 58 arranged so that one of its endsengages the plug 42 and its other end engages the end 54 of 31.

In assembly, the timing mechanism 35 is pivotally attached atV one end to the time-latch 3l by means of a pin 59 which extends through apertures 40 and 33. 'I'he other end of the timing mechanism 35 is selectively and pivotally sup-V ported in the slots 21 formed in the racks 25 by means of a pin 60 which extends through aperture `56 and is snugly received in a selected slot 21. i In operation, assuming that the tobacco box is in closed position, and that the timing period has `expired so that the time-latch is in its disengaged position (Figure 4), the box may be opened 'upon depressing the portion 29 of the latch 28 against the action of the flat spring 2|). When the box is opened (Figure 2), the strong coil-spring 49ffisk compressed; when the box is closed (Figure V3), the weak coil-spring 53 is compressed, and the strong coil-spring remains compressed by virtue of the force of the fluid 44 acting lagainst the plunger 45. In this state the timing mechanism 35, acting in the manner of a dash pot, is operable upon the time-latch 3l maintaining -engagement of the time-latch with the L nshaped flange or keeper 25, and the box cannot be opened until, sufficient iiuid 44 bleeds past the plunger 45. As the iluid bleeds past the *plunger the plunger is moved to the left of thewposition thereof illustrated in Figure 3 until the head 5l of the rod 5D is engaged thereby. When fluid 44 has seeped past the plunger 45, the force ofV the strong coil-spring 49 is effective against the action of the weak coil-spring 58, in moving the time-latch 3| in a clockwise direction about its pivot, thus disengaging the timelatch from theL shaped flange or keeper (illustrated in Figure 4), and the box may be opened. It Yis significant to note, however, that the box need notsbe opened at this time as the latch 28 willmaintain the box in closed position until the userwishes to open it. s

Y'I 'he timing `interval during which the timing mechanism is acting to maintain the box in a lockedstate, may bervaried by a simple adjustment of the timing mechanism to the desired slots 21 formed inthe racks 26. If the timing mechanism is supported lby the slots near the end a of the racks 26, the time locking interval will be of minimum duration; if the timing mechanism is supported by the slots near the end b of the 4 racks 26, the time locking interval will be of maximum duration.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims; also it is understood that the novel time-lock disclosed herein can be used for containers other than a tobacco box.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tobacco box having a body member and a closure member hinged thereto, the improvement which comprises latching means mounted on Ysaid tobacco box and timing means controlling said latching means, said timing means'including a hollow member; said hollow member being closed and operable on said latch at one end and having an aperture formed at itsopposite end, said hollow member housing a iluid, a rod having ya stop formed thereon, a floating plunger mounted on said rod for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and a resilient member acting on the plunger limiting its longitudinal movement between said stop and said resilient member, said rod being arrangedi to extend through said aperture; a member cooperating with said hollow member, said member adapted to be supported selectively by said box, having means operable. on said rod and including resilient means operable on said hollowmember, said resilient member acting on said plunger being stronger than said resilient means operable on said hollow member whereby, upon closing the` tobacco box a dash pot effect is attained through the medium of said fluid acting in opposition to the longitudinal movement ofsaid oating plunger, which effect maintains said latchingmeans in locked position for a predetermined interval of time. Y

2. In a tobacco box having a body member and a `closure member hinged thereto, the improvement whichV comprises latching means mounted on the tobacco box and timing means controlling said latching means, saidV timing means including two hollow members telescoped one within the other; one of said hollow members being closed and operable on said latch at one end and having an aperture formed at its opposite end; said one of said hollow members housing a fluid, a strong compression spring, a rod having a stop formed thereon and a floating plunger mounted on said rod for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said rodv extending through said aperture and the longitudinal movement of said plunger being limited by said stop in one direction and said spring in the other direction; the other of said mem-- bers adapted to be supported selectively by said box, having means operable on said rod and housing a weak compression spring which bears upon said one of said hollow members; whereby upon closing the tobacco box said uid opposes the longitudinal movement of said floating plunger in the manner of a dash pot and said latching means is locked for a predetermined time interval.

3. In a tobacco box having a body member and a closure member hinged thereto, the improvement which includes latching means pivotally mounted on the tobacco box and timing means controlling said latching means, saidtiming means including two hollow members telescoped, 01.16 Within the other; one of said hollow members being closed and pivotally attached to .said latch at one end, having an aperture formed at its opposite end and containing a fluid, a strong coil-spring, a rod having a stop formed thereon and a member mounted on said rod for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said rod extending through said aperture and the longitudinal movement of said member being limited by said stop and strong coil-spring; the other of said hollow members arranged to be supported selectively by said box, having means to rigidly attach said rod thereto and housing a weak coil-spring arranged to act upon said one of said hollow members; whereby, when the box is opened, the plunger engages the stop formed on the rod and compresses the strong coil-spring, and when the box is closed, the weak coil-spring is compressed and the strong coil-spring is maintained in its compressed state by Virtue of fluid pressure acting against the plunger and the resultant force of the time-locking means acts against the time-latch until the uid bleeds past said plunger allowing said yplunger to resume its normal position at the end of the rod, whereupon the force of the strong coil-spring acting in the same direction disengages the time-latch.

4. In a tobacco box having a top and a bottom section each including four anged side walls, said sections being hinged together along one side, the improvement which comprises a latch slidably mounted on one of said side walls of one of said sections having a portion thereof extending without the box and a portion thereof adapted to engage one of said flanged side walls of the other of said sections; spring means mounted on said one of said side walls cooperating with said latch and urging the latch toward said one of said side walls; a plurality of racks mounted on said other of said sections, said racks having slots formed therein; a time-latch pivotally mounted on a bracket rigidly attached to said one of said sections, said time-latch adapted to cooperate with a keeper mounted on a side wall of said other of said sections; timing means controlling the time-latch, said timing means including two hollow elongated members telescoped one within the other; one of said elongated members being closed and pivotally attached to said time-latch at one end, having an aperture formed at its opposite end and housing a strong coil-spring, a rod having a stop formed on one end thereof, and a oating plunger mounted on the rod for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, the longitudinal movement of the plunger being limited by said stop and coil-spring and said rod arranged to extend through said aperture; the other of the elongated members being adapted to be selectively supported -in said slots formed in said racks and having means to rigidly attach said rod thereto and housing a weak coil-spring, arranged to act upon said one of the elongated members; whereby, when the box is opened, the plunger engages the stop formed on the rod and compresses the strong coil-spring, and when the box is closed, the weak coil-spring is compressed and the strong coil-spring is maintained in its compressed state by virtue of fluid pressure acting against the plunger and the resultant force of the time-locking means acts against the timelatch until the fluid bleeds past said plunger allowing said plunger to resume its normal position at the end of the rod, whereupon the force ofy the strong coil-spring acting in the same direction disengages the time-latch.

v5. In a box including a body member and a closure member hinged thereto, the improvement comprising latching means mounted on one of said members and timing means controlling said latching means; said timing means including a yhollow item closed at 4one end and having means engaging said latching means, rst resilient means biasing said hollow item in such-a direction as to exert a force on said latching means in latching direction, the opposite end of said hollow item having an aperture formed therein, a rod connected to the other of said members and extending into said hollow item through said aperture, stop means on said rod within said hollow item, a piston having a slow leakage aperture slidably carried by said rod between between said stop means and the apertured end of said hollow item, second resilient means biasing said piston toward said stop means and exerting a force on said hollow item in opposition to said first resilient means, said second resilient means, after a predetermined time controlled by leakage of air through said slow leakage aperture, causing said piston to engage said stop means and thereafter exerting a force on said hollow item sufficient to overcome the force of said rst resilient means and to release said latching m-eans.

6. In a box including a body member and a closure member hinged thereto, the improvement that comprises latching means mounted on one of said members and timing means interconnecting said latching means and said other member for controlling said latching means; said timing means including an elongated hollow item closed on one end and having an aperture formed in the other end, a rod extending into said hollow item through said aperture, said rod and said hollow item being arranged for relative longitudinal movement, stop means on said rod within said hollow item, a piston housed in said hollow item between said stop means and the apertured end of said hollow item and slidably carried on said rod, said closed end of said hollow item and said piston dening therebetween a chamber having leakage means, a first resilient means longitudinally biasing said hollow item in one direction and said rod in an opposite direction, a second resilient means biasing said piston toward said stop means and exerting a force on said hollow item in opposition to said first resilient means, said second resilient means, after a predetermined time controlled by leakage of air through said leakage means, causing said piston to engage said stop means and thereafter overcoming said rst resilient means and longitudinally biasing said hollow item and said rod in directions opposite to the direction exerted by said first resilient means.

7. A timing device that comprises an elongated hollow item closed on one end and havingan aperture formed in the other end, a rod extending into said hollow item through said aperture, said rod and said hollow item being arranged for relative longitudinal movement, stop means on said rod within said hollow item, a piston housed in said hollow items between said stop means and the apertured end of said hollow item and slidably carried on said rod, said closed end of said hollow item and said piston dening therebetween a chamber having leakage means, a first resilient means longitudinally biaslng said hollow item in one direction and said rod in an opposite direction, a second resilient means biasing said piston toward said stop means and exerting a force on said hollow item in opposition to said flrst'resilient means, said second resilient means, REFERENCES CITED v after a' predetermined time Controlled by leak' The following references are of record in the age of fluid'through said letakage means, casing fue of this partent:

said piston 4to engage said s op means and t ereafter overcoming said rst resilient means and 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS longitudinally biasing said hollow item and said Number Name Date rod in directions opposite to the direction exerted 403,563 Stockwell May 21, 1889 by said rst resilient means. 580,736 Smith Apr. 13, 1897 1,764,154 Cramer June 17, 1930 ROBERT F. DAVIS. 1o 2,415,911 Rubane Feb. 18, 1947 

